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LedgerX board member raises compliance and funds’ safety concerns with CFTC; company appoints new CEO

Mon, 13 Jan 2020, 12:06 pm UTC

A LedgerX board member and investor has raised a number of concerns about the company in a letter addressed to the LedgerX Holdings board, LedgerX LLC board, LedgerX shareholders, and the Office of the Inspector General at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Nicholas Owen Gunden has withdrawn his funds and raised concerns about the safety of the funds held at LedgerX, the company’s failing compliance with the CFTC regulations, and a potential takeover by Miami International Holdings (MIAX), among other things, CoinDesk reported.

Issues reportedly started appearing after LedgerX co-founders Paul and Juthica Chou were placed on administrative leave last month.

“I am concerned with recent developments at the company, particularly the fact and manner in which the founders, Paul Chou and Juthica Chou, and particularly Juthica, have been barred from continuing their roles at the company,” Gunden wrote.

He revealed that he has seen a copy of a petition circulated at the company to retain Paul and Juthica. The petition, he claimed, was signed by 75% of employees. However, two of the employees who started the petition were reportedly fired “apparently in retaliation.”

Also, following the ousting of the co-founders, Gunden said that no one acted as his point of exchange at the exchange. In addition, he alleged that some shareholders were given preferential treatment.

He went to say that “an extreme and one-sided case was made against Paul and Juthica” at a board meeting that was held to suspend the co-founders with “no chance for them to speak in their defense and nobody speaking on their behalf.”

“While a case can be made against Paul due to his recent external communications, no comparable case can be made against Juthica, and yet she is being removed as well in spite of being the best-suited candidate for CEO,” Gunden added.

MIAX attempting a takeover?

Gunden alleged that MIAX, one shareholder in the company, might be receiving a “sweetheart deal” investment which seeks to dilute existing shareholders, adding that “crisis are being manufactured to support this deal.”

He revealed that following the co-founders’ ousting, LedgerX hired a security firm and are paying around $60,000 per month. Gunden added:

“This action was not mentioned to the LLC board. This significantly increases the burn rate at LedgerX, and raises the question whether the Holdings board is really acting in the interests of its shareholders, or merely attempting to drain cash reserves as fast as possible in order to make the case for an emergency financing round via MIAX.”

He said that MIAX does not care if LedgerX shuts down as it could still benefit from controlling the license.

New CEO

Meanwhile, LedgerX has named former Chief Technology Officer Zach Dexter as Chief Executive Officer to lead the company's new retail-focused strategy.

In a press release, the company said that Dexter's re-appointment was supported by a majority of the company's directors and stockholders.

Ledger Holdings, LedgerX’s parent company, also announced a significant financing led by the company's largest investors including Digital Finance Group. The funding, it said, will help shore up operational enhancements and allow the company to secure a number of additional senior executives.

"We are excited to conclude this important financing as we move forward into the next phase of our business. Since my involvement with the company began, we have kept in close contact with all of the company's stakeholders including employees, investors and regulators and have kept the CFTC fully apprised of the company's actions including the recent financing,” Larry E. Thompson, Ledger Holdings Inc.'s Interim CEO, said.

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